It’s been a tough month for Terrence Howard. First, the actor was reportedly shocked to learn that he’d been replaced in the upcoming film Iron Man 2. Now, the one-time Oscar nominee has been slapped with a $5 million lawsuit in which he faces allegations of assault for punching a man in January.

The lawsuit claims Howard punched composer Tex Allen (brother of director/choreographer Debbie Allen) during rehearsals for the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof that Howard headlined last winter.

The actor’s publicist dismissed any hoopla associated with the lawsuit, telling E! News, "We are aware of the allegations and expect this frivolous suit to be dismissed."